Question

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Use the map of Georgia to consider different applications of von Thünen’s model.

Assuming an absence of topographical features, in one to two sentences describe how different types of farming would be arranged around Atlanta, according to von Thünen’s model.

In 2–3 sentences, describe how the site factors near Savannah would affect the distribution of types of farming around Savannah’s city center, according to von Thünen’s model.

In 1–2 sentences, explain how a national rail line through Atlanta, Macon, and Statesboro to Savannah might affect the distribution of farming and how this relates to von Thünen’s model.

In one sentence, give an example of a situation in which von Thünen’s model would have limited utility in explaining the distribution of agriculture.

Answer 1

- Around Atlanta (assuming flat terrain), von Thünen predicts concentric rings with intensive market gardening and dairy nearest the city, a band of timber/fuel next, then extensive field crops like cotton or corn, and ranching/stock raising on the outermost lands.

- Near Savannah, the port and navigable waterways lower transport costs, so export-oriented and bulk crops can be produced farther from the city than they would be inland; meanwhile the warm climate and fertile coastal soils favor large-scale cash crops, but salt marshes and flood-prone areas make some directions unsuitable for typical farming and favor forestry or aquaculture.

- A national rail line through Atlanta–Macon–Statesboro–Savannah would reduce transport costs and travel time along that corridor, allowing high-value and perishable agriculture to locate farther from city centers and producing elongated, corridor-shaped intensive farming zones rather than perfect concentric rings, which is consistent with von Thünen’s distance–cost trade-off but alters the spatial pattern.

- The model has limited utility in places with rugged topography, multiple nearby markets, modern refrigeration/road networks, or strong governmental zoning—for example, suburban development around Atlanta where land use is driven by housing and infrastructure rather than distance to a single market.